The Oak Room

In 2024, 20.20 were appointed to help Aston Villa redevelop its premium hospitality offer, aiming to provide guests with a broader selection of fine dining and exclusive experiences ready by the start of the following season – the Club’s 150th Anniversary Season.

Our scope spanned seven spaces, all requiring unique narratives, design concepts, custom furniture and most importantly, beautifully layered storytelling. Working hard within the physical constraints of Villa Park, 20.20 were able to create concepts and spaces that optimised occupancy levels and operational efficiency, ensuring they deliver according to the Club’s business model and most importantly, providing a level of service to underpin the new premium guest experiences.

For The Oak Room, the project was so much more than design; it’s a story of restoration, English football history and important architectural legacy. Villa Park is an icon, a beacon of football sitting in the heart of the country. It set the standards of stadium design in its era and the highly regarded Trinity Stand designed by their former Chairman, Frederick Rinder, adds another unique story that no other stadium can attest to; The Trinity Stand was the grandest of its time featuring Italian mosaics, stained glass windows and Dutch gables in the design of the nearby Aston Hall, a Jacobean stately home.
The Oak Room was deeply inspired by the original Oak Room, which was the first-ever restaurant within a football stadium. It celebrates Aston Villa Football Club’s proudest historic memories, showcasing the 1982 European Cup, the original Football League Trophy and the FA Cup. The space is warm and atmospheric despite its double-height glazing and open ceiling; the walls are finished in timber panelling and ceramic tiles, the floor with natural stones and patterned timber; Italian mosaics surround the bar, and the original stained glass windows divide the space. The space feels contemporary yet rich in history.